JP2010028382A - Relay apparatus, terminal device, communication system, communication method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To flexibly select a communication service providing configuration according to places. <P>SOLUTION: A relay apparatus includes a main communication unit for transmitting and receiving a communication signal by wire or radio to/from external devices, a signal conversion unit that modulates the communication signal received by the main communication unit into a potential in an electrostatic field for conversion into an electrostatic field signal or demodulates the electrostatic field signal modulated into the potential in the electrostatic field for conversion into the communication signal transmitted and received to/from the external devices, and an electrode that radiates the electrostatic field signal modulated by the signal conversion unit as the potential of the electrostatic field or detects the potential of the electrostatic field to generate the electrostatic field signal for output to the signal conversion unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a relay device, a terminal device, a communication system, a communication method, and a program.

  Currently, wireless communication such as mobile communication is widely used. For example, when a typical mobile phone is used as a mobile communication terminal, wireless communication can be performed even inside a building or vehicle as long as radio waves from the base station arrive. However, even within the reach of radio waves from the base station, for example in concert halls and theaters, facilities that locally disturb radio waves should be installed in facilities that cause inconvenience to users when ringtones are received from mobile phones. Therefore, the use of a mobile phone may be restricted.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a situation where the use of a mobile phone is restricted. In FIG. 1, a facility 20 is located inside the radio wave reachable range 12 of the base station 10. The facility 20 corresponds to, for example, a concert hall. An interference wave transmitter 22 is installed in the facility 20. Thereby, in the facility 20, the use of the mobile phone 30 is restricted even if it is not out of the radio wave reachable range 12 of the base station 10.

  Another example in which the use of wireless communication is restricted is in public transportation. For example, manners to refrain from talking on the train are spreading. However, the degree of restriction differs depending on the place of use, such as the use of some decks with reserved seats is permitted. Further, for example, in an aircraft, use of a wireless communication device that may affect the device is normally prohibited.

  As a technique for restricting the function of wireless communication, for example, in Patent Document 1 below, the number of terminals detected by detecting the number of peripheral terminals by transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from communication terminals around the device itself is detected. A method for automatically shifting to the manner mode in response to the above is disclosed.

JP2007-135009

  However, since the method described in Patent Document 1 uses a radio signal as a means for restricting the function of radio communication, there is a situation in which an interference wave is generated or a situation in which the radio signal itself is to be restricted. It could not be used below.

  In many cases, restrictions on the use of wireless communication are left to the user's common sense, and effective deterrence means for users with poor manners have not yet been realized. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 1, when a device or the like that locally interferes with radio waves is installed, all services that use wireless communication are blocked regardless of the type in the facility where the device is installed. The For this reason, it has not been possible to flexibly select a communication service provision form, such as allowing limited provision of communication services that may be permitted.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved relay that can flexibly select a communication service provision form according to a place. An apparatus, a terminal device, a communication system, a communication method, and a program are provided.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to an aspect of the present invention, a basic communication unit that transmits and receives wired or wireless communication signals to and from an external device, and the communication signal received by the basic communication unit are statically transmitted. A signal converter that modulates the electric field in the electric field and converts it into an electrostatic field signal, or demodulates the electrostatic field signal modulated in the electric field in the electrostatic field and converts it into a communication signal that is transmitted to and received from the external device; An electrode unit that radiates an electrostatic field signal modulated by the signal conversion unit as an electrostatic field potential or senses the electrostatic field potential to generate an electrostatic field signal and outputs the electrostatic field signal to the signal conversion unit. A relay device is provided.

  According to such a configuration, the backbone communication unit receives a wired or wireless communication signal from an external device, and the signal conversion unit modulates the communication signal received by the backbone communication unit into a potential in an electrostatic field and converts it to an electrostatic field signal. The electrostatic field signal is radiated from the electrode portion. The electrostatic field signal generated by the electrode unit that senses the potential of the electrostatic field is demodulated by the signal conversion unit and converted into a communication signal that is transmitted to and received from an external device. The communication signal is transmitted from the core communication unit. Sent to an external device.

  Further, the relay device acquires a service identifier for identifying a communication service provided by the communication signal from the communication signal received by the backbone communication unit, and the acquired service identifier is a relay in which the service identifier is defined in advance. A processing unit that converts the communication signal into the electrostatic field signal by the signal conversion unit only when corresponding to a target communication service may be further included.

  Further, the relay device adds a permitted service identifier for designating a communication service permitted to be provided to a user to the communication signal received by the backbone communication unit, and adds the communication signal to which the permitted service identifier is added. You may further provide the process part converted into the said electrostatic field signal by the said signal conversion part.

  The relay device encrypts the permitted service identifier using a common key to generate signature information, and adds the generated signature information to the communication signal received by the backbone communication unit, May be further provided.

  The relay device may further include a steady signal transmission unit that periodically transmits a predetermined electrostatic field signal from the electrode unit.

  Further, the relay device adds arbitrary information to the communication signal received by the backbone communication unit and converts the information into the electrostatic field signal by the signal conversion unit, or from the electrostatic field signal by the signal conversion unit. The information processing apparatus may further include a processing unit that adds arbitrary information to the converted communication signal and causes the backbone communication unit to transmit the information to the external device.

  In order to solve the above problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, a wireless communication unit that transmits and receives a wireless signal to and from an external device, and an electrostatic field signal that is modulated to an electrostatic field potential is transmitted and received. A terminal device is provided that includes an electrostatic field communication unit and a determination unit that determines whether to provide a communication service provided by the wireless signal or the electrostatic field signal.

  In addition, the determination unit acquires a communication status by the wireless communication unit and the electrostatic field communication unit, and determines whether to provide a communication service provided by the radio signal or the electrostatic field signal according to the acquired communication status. You may judge.

  In addition, when the wireless communication unit and the electrostatic field communication unit can communicate with each other, the determination unit is configured to provide a communication service of the wireless signal or the electrostatic field signal based on priority information given in advance. The signal used to provide the signal may be determined.

  In addition, the determination unit acquires a permitted service identifier that specifies a communication service permitted to be provided to a user from the electrostatic field signal, and based on the acquired permitted service identifier, a communication service provided by the electrostatic field signal You may determine whether provision is possible.

  The terminal device further includes a signature verification unit that verifies the validity of the permitted service identifier by decrypting signature information for the permitted service identifier added to the electrostatic field signal using a common key. You may prepare.

  The electrostatic field communication unit receives a stationary signal which is an electrostatic field signal periodically transmitted, and the determination unit receives the wireless signal when the stationary signal is received by the electrostatic field communication unit. Transmission and reception of radio signals by the communication unit may be stopped.

  In addition, the terminal device may include a signal strength of the wireless signal transmitted / received by the wireless communication unit, a signal strength of the electrostatic field signal transmitted / received by the electrostatic field communication unit, and the wireless signal and the electrostatic field signal. A display unit that displays to the user the types of signals currently available may be further provided.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to another aspect of the present invention, an electrostatic field communication unit that transmits and receives an electrostatic field signal modulated to an electrostatic field potential, and a communication service provided by the electrostatic field signal And a determination unit that determines whether or not to provide the terminal device is provided.

  In order to solve the above problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, a backbone communication unit that transmits and receives wired or wireless communication signals to and from an external device, and the communication signal received by the backbone communication unit Is converted into a static electric field signal by modulating the signal into a potential in an electrostatic field, or is converted into a communication signal that is demodulated and converted into a communication signal transmitted to and received from the external device. And an electrode unit that radiates an electrostatic field signal modulated by the signal conversion unit as a potential or senses the electrostatic field potential to generate an electrostatic field signal and outputs the signal to the signal conversion unit Provided by a wireless communication unit that transmits and receives a radio signal between a device and an external device, an electrostatic field communication unit that transmits and receives an electrostatic field signal modulated to an electrostatic field potential, and the wireless signal or the electrostatic field signal Communication service Determination unit for provision adequacy of the scan, the communication system including a terminal device, the comprising a provided.

  In order to solve the above problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, a backbone communication unit that transmits and receives wired or wireless communication signals to and from an external device, and the communication signal received by the backbone communication unit Is converted into a static electric field signal by modulating the signal into a potential in an electrostatic field, or is converted into a communication signal that is demodulated and converted into a communication signal transmitted to and received from the external device. , An electrode unit that radiates an electrostatic field signal modulated by the signal conversion unit as a potential, or generates an electrostatic field signal by sensing the potential of the electrostatic field and outputs the signal to the signal conversion unit, and the core communication A service identifier for identifying the communication service provided by the communication signal from the communication signal received by the communication signal, and the relay target communication service in which the acquired service identifier is defined in advance Radio that transmits and receives radio signals between the first and second relay devices each including a processing unit that converts the communication signal into the electrostatic field signal by the signal conversion unit only when applicable, and an external device A communication device, and a terminal device including an electrostatic field communication unit that transmits and receives an electrostatic field signal modulated to an electrostatic field potential, the communication system including the communication device and the terminal device defined in advance in the first relay device A communication system is provided in which the communication service to be relayed is not identical to the communication service to be relayed defined in advance in the second relay device.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to another aspect of the present invention, a step of receiving a wired or wireless communication signal transmitted from an external device at a relay device, and the received communication signal as an electrostatic field A terminal device comprising: a step of converting into an electrostatic field signal modulated into a potential at the terminal and radiating from an electrode portion provided in the relay device; a wireless communication unit for transmitting / receiving a radio signal; And receiving the radiated electrostatic field signal by sensing the potential of the electrostatic field.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to another aspect of the present invention, a backbone communication unit that transmits and receives wired or wireless communication signals to and from an external device, and an electrostatic field signal as an electrostatic field potential A computer that controls a relay device including an electrode unit that generates an electrostatic field signal by sensing a potential of an radiated or electrostatic field, modulates the communication signal received by the backbone communication unit to a potential in the electrostatic field, There is provided a program for functioning as a signal conversion unit that converts an electric field signal into an electric field signal or demodulates an electrostatic field signal generated by the electrode unit and converts it into the communication signal.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, a wireless communication unit that transmits and receives a wireless signal to and from an external device, and an electrostatic field signal that is modulated to an electrostatic field potential is transmitted and received. There is provided a program for causing a computer that controls a terminal device including an electrostatic field communication unit to function as a determination unit that determines whether to provide a communication service provided by the wireless signal or the electrostatic field signal.

  As described above, according to the relay device, the terminal device, the communication system, the communication method, and the program according to the present invention, it is possible to flexibly select a communication service provision form according to a place.

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in this specification and drawing, about the component which has the substantially same function structure, duplication description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol.

The “best mode for carrying out the invention” will be described in the following order.
[1] Overview of communication system [2] First embodiment [3] Second embodiment [3-1] First configuration example [3-2] Second configuration example [4] Third embodiment Form [5] Fourth Embodiment [6] Fifth Embodiment [7] Summary

[1] Overview of Communication System First, an overview of a communication system according to first to fifth embodiments described later will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a basic configuration of a communication system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the communication system 100 mainly includes a relay device 120 and a terminal device 150.

  The relay device 120 plays a role of relaying signals transmitted and received between a communication device (hereinafter referred to as an external device, not shown) outside the communication system 100 and the terminal device 150. More specifically, the relay device 120 converts the basic signal S1 received from the external device into an electrostatic field signal S2, and radiates it from the electrode unit 130. In addition, the relay device 120 converts the electrostatic field signal S2 received by the electrode unit 130 into the basic signal S1, and transmits it to the external device.

  In FIG. 2, a plate electrode is shown as the electrode unit 130, but the electrode unit 130 is not limited to a plate electrode. The electrode unit 130 may be, for example, an electrode having a shape other than a flat plate, or a coil that acts on a magnetic field that varies with the potential of the electrostatic field. The electrode unit 130 may be, for example, an electro-optic crystal body that optically detects a change in potential.

  The backbone signal S1 is, for example, a wired or wireless communication signal transmitted / received via an existing communication network. For example, the backbone signal S1 may be a signal transmitted / received via the Internet, a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a dedicated line, or a VPN (Virtual Private Network).

  On the other hand, the electrostatic field signal S2 is a signal modulated using, for example, a potential in an electrostatic field. The electrostatic field signal S2 is transmitted from the electrode unit 130 of the relay device 120 to the terminal device 150 via the human body 110, for example. However, the electrostatic field signal does not necessarily pass through the human body 110. For example, when the terminal device 150 is brought close to the electrode unit 130, it can be directly transmitted from the electrode unit 130 to the terminal device 150 through the space.

  The terminal device 150 transmits and receives the electrostatic field signal S2 to and from the relay device 120. In addition, the terminal device 150 transmits and receives a radio signal S3 to and from an external device. Although a mobile phone is shown as the terminal device 150 in FIG. 2, the terminal device 150 is not limited to a mobile phone. The terminal device 150 may be an arbitrary communication terminal or information processing terminal such as a PC (Personal Computer), a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), or a portable game terminal.

  So far, the outline of the communication system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to FIG. Next, first to fifth embodiments of the present invention will be described.

[2] First Embodiment As a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 shows an example in which the communication system 100 is applied in a facility where a device that locally disturbs radio waves is installed.

  Referring to FIG. 3, the communication system 100 exists inside the facility 102. In the facility 102, an interference wave transmitter 104 is installed. Therefore, the terminal device 150 possessed by the user (human body 110) cannot receive radio waves transmitted from the base station 10 located outside the facility 102.

  On the other hand, the radio wave transmitted from the base station 10 is received by the relay station 12 and becomes the basic signal S1. Then, the backbone signal S1 is input to the relay device 120.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a logical configuration of the relay device 120 according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 4, the relay device 120 includes a backbone communication unit 122, a signal conversion unit 128, and an electrode unit 130.

  For example, the backbone communication unit 122 receives the backbone signal S1 from the external device via the relay station 12, and outputs the received backbone signal S1 to the signal conversion unit 128. In addition, the core communication unit 122 transmits the core signal S1 input from the signal conversion unit 128 to the external device via the relay station 12, for example. For example, when the relay station 12 and the relay device 120 shown in FIG. 3 are connected by Ethernet (registered trademark) based on TCP / IP, the backbone communication unit 122 is a network compliant with Ethernet (registered trademark). Implemented as an interface.

  For example, the signal conversion unit 128 converts the basic signal S <b> 1 input from the basic communication unit 122 into an electrostatic field signal S <b> 2 and outputs it to the electrode unit 130. For example, the signal conversion unit 128 converts the electrostatic field signal S <b> 2 input from the electrode unit 130 into the basic signal S <b> 1 and outputs it to the basic communication unit 122. More specifically, for example, when converting the basic signal S1 to the electrostatic field signal S2, the signal conversion unit 128 uses an AC signal generated by the AC signal generator using a resonance circuit including a capacitive element and an inductive element. The electrostatic field signal S2 is modulated by amplifying and changing the potential radiated from the electrode unit. Further, for example, when the electrostatic field signal S2 is converted to the basic signal S1, the signal conversion unit 128 uses a resonance circuit including a capacitive element and an inductive element to change the potential of the electrostatic field sensed by the electrode unit 130. And demodulate using a demodulator.

  As described with reference to FIG. 2, the electrode unit 130 radiates, for example, the electrostatic field signal S <b> 2 input from the signal conversion unit 128 as a potential in the electrostatic field. For example, the electrode unit 130 senses the potential of the human body 110 to generate the electrostatic field signal S2, and outputs the generated electrostatic field signal S2 to the signal conversion unit 128.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 3, the description of the communication system 100 according to the present embodiment is continued.

  The electrostatic field signal S <b> 2 output from the relay device 120 is transmitted using the human body 110 as a transmission medium, for example, and is transmitted to the terminal device 150.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a logical configuration of the terminal device 150 according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 5, the terminal device 150 includes a wireless communication unit 152, an electrostatic field communication unit 154, a display unit 156, an operation unit 158, a call unit 160, a control unit 162, a determination unit 164, and a storage unit 166.

  The wireless communication unit 152 is a communication interface for the terminal device 150 to perform wireless communication with an external device. The wireless communication unit 152 mainly includes, for example, an antenna, an RF (Radio Frequency) circuit, a demodulator, a decoder, an encoder, a modulator, and the like. As described with reference to FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, since the interference wave is transmitted by the interference wave transmitter 104 inside the facility 102, the wireless communication unit 152 is transmitted from an external device. Wireless signal S3 cannot be received.

  The electrostatic field communication unit 154 is a communication interface for the terminal device 150 to communicate with an external device using electrostatic field communication with the relay device 120. The electrostatic field communication unit 154 mainly includes, for example, an electrode, a resonance circuit, an AC signal generator, a demodulator, a decoder, an encoder, and a modulator. For example, when a change in the potential of the human body 110 is detected by an electrode of the electrostatic field communication unit 154 that is in contact with or close to the human body 110, the electrostatic field communication unit 154 amplifies, demodulates, and decodes the change in the potential to control the control unit 162. Output to.

  The display unit 156 displays arbitrary information that the terminal device 150 presents to the user on the screen. For example, the display unit 156 displays the intensity of a signal that can be transmitted and received by the current wireless communication unit 152 and the electrostatic field communication unit 154, as will be described later.

  The operation unit 158 provides a user interface for the user of the terminal device 150 to give an instruction to the terminal device 150 or to input information. For example, the start of a call by the terminal device 150, a response to an incoming call, transmission / reception of an e-mail, and the like can be started by a user operation on the operation unit 158.

  The call unit 160 is provided for a user of the terminal device 150 to make a call with a user who uses another terminal device. The call unit 160 includes, for example, a transmitter and a receiver.

  The control unit 162 controls overall functions of the terminal device 150 such as wireless communication by the wireless communication unit 152, electrostatic field communication by the electrostatic field communication unit 154, screen display by the display unit 156, and telephone conversation via the call unit 160. That is, each service such as a telephone service and a mail service provided to the user by the terminal device 150 is controlled by the control unit 162. In the present embodiment, the control unit 162 requests the determination unit 164 to determine whether or not to provide the service before providing the service to the user.

  For example, the determination unit 164 determines whether each service can be provided by the control unit 162 according to the communication status of the wireless communication unit 152 and the electrostatic field communication unit 154. The determination of whether or not the service can be provided by the determination unit 164 is performed using, for example, provided service information registered in advance in the storage unit 166.

  FIG. 6 illustrates an example of provided service information associated with a communication status that can be registered in the storage unit 166 in advance. In the first and second lines of FIG. 6, the communication statuses of wireless communication and electrostatic field communication are respectively defined (O: During communication, X: During non-communication). From this, it can be seen that column A in FIG. 6 corresponds to the case of wireless communication, and column B corresponds to the case of electrostatic field communication.

  Further, in the third to sixth lines in FIG. 6, as an example of a service provided by the terminal device 150, “incoming <sound>” (incoming call informed by sound), “incoming <vibration>” (informed by vibration) Incoming), “call” and “mail transmission / reception” services are listed in order. For each of these services, it is defined whether or not the service can be provided when wireless communication is being performed (column A) and when electrostatic field communication is being performed (column B) (O: available, x: provided) Impossible). In the example of FIG. 6, all the services described above can be provided when wireless communication is in progress (column A). On the other hand, in the case of electrostatic field communication (column B), although the incoming call notified by vibration and the mail transmission / reception service can be provided, the incoming call notified by sound and the call service are not provided.

  For example, the determination unit 164 acquires such provided service information from the storage unit 166 and responds to an inquiry about whether or not the service can be provided from the control unit 162. The control unit 162 receives a response from the determination unit 164 and provides only the service determined to be available to the user.

  In addition to the provision service information described above, the storage unit 166 stores programs and data for executing each function of the terminal device 150, data to be viewed or used by the user, and the like.

  Up to this point, the first embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, wireless communication cannot be performed using the terminal device 150 inside the facility 102 due to the influence of the interference wave transmitter 104. However, a user who is in contact with (or is located near) the electrode unit 130 of the relay device 120 installed in the facility 102 can perform electrostatic field communication using the terminal device 150.

  At this time, services provided using electrostatic field communication are limited in units of individual services based on the provided service information described above. Such provided service information can be freely added / changed via the operation unit 158 included in the terminal device 150. Therefore, for example, inside the concert hall or the theater, it is possible to flexibly select the service to be provided according to the location, such as allowing only incoming calls and emails notified by vibration.

  Although not shown in FIG. 6, for example, the storage unit 166 stores priority order information indicating which communication is preferentially used when both wireless communication and electrostatic field communication are available. May be. In that case, the determination unit 164 can acquire the priority order information, and the control unit 162 can be provided with a communication service using a communication method to be prioritized. Thereby, for example, electrodes can be installed in places where radio communication may be congested due to congestion, such as a resting place in a concert hall or a downtown area, and electrostatic field communication can be used as an alternative communication means.

[3] Second Embodiment [3-1] First Configuration Example In the first embodiment, a communication system including one relay device and a terminal device is configured inside the facility and transmitted from the relay device. In the terminal device that receives the electrostatic field signal S <b> 2, the example in which the service provided according to the communication status is appropriately limited has been described. On the other hand, if a communication system including a plurality of relay devices is provided inside the facility, and each relay device has information for determining a communication service, it becomes possible to select a more detailed service.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an overview of a communication system 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 7, the communication system 200 exists in the facility 102 as in the communication system 100 according to the first embodiment. An interference wave transmitter 104 is installed in the facility 102. For this reason, the terminal devices 250A and 250B possessed by the user (human body 110) cannot receive radio waves transmitted from the base station 10 located outside the facility 102.

  In the present embodiment, an area 102A and an area 102B exist inside the facility 102. Then, the relay device 220A is installed in the area 102A, and the user 110A holding the communication terminal 250A is in contact with the electrode of the relay device 220A. On the other hand, relay device 220B is installed in area 102B, and user 110B holding communication terminal 250B is in contact with the electrode of relay device 220B.

  In the example of FIG. 7, the radio wave transmitted from the base station 10 is received by the relay station 12 and becomes the basic signal S1. Then, the backbone signal S1 is input to the relay device 220A and the relay device 220B.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a logical configuration of the relay device 220 (the relay device 220A and the relay device 220B) according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 8, the relay device 220 includes a backbone communication unit 122, a processing unit 224, a storage unit 226, a signal conversion unit 128, and an electrode unit 130.

  In the present embodiment, the basic signal S 1 output from the basic communication unit 122 is input to the processing unit 224 before being transferred to the signal conversion unit 128. Here, it is assumed that the basic signal S1 in the present embodiment includes a service identifier for identifying a service provided by the signal.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the basic signal S1. Referring to FIG. 9, the basic signal S1 has a header part and a data part. The header part includes a service identifier.

  The service identifier is an identifier for identifying each service such as a call (X1), mail transmission / reception (X2), video distribution (X3), and other services (XX), as shown as an example in FIG. It is. The service identifier may be a port number included in the TCP / IP packet, for example. The service identifier may be a symbol uniquely defined by the communication system 200.

  When the basic signal S1 is input, the processing unit 224 of the relay device 220 illustrated in FIG. 8 acquires a service identifier included in the basic signal S1. Then, only when the acquired service identifier indicates a service permitted in the area where the apparatus is installed, the basic signal S1 is output to the subsequent functional block (the signal conversion unit 128 or the basic communication unit 122).

  Here, whether or not the service identifier acquired by the processing unit 224 indicates a permitted service is determined based on relay service information registered in advance in the storage unit 226, for example. FIG. 10 shows an example of relay service information associated with an area where the relay device 220 is installed, which can be registered in the storage unit 226 in advance.

  FIG. 10A is an example of relay service information used for the relay device 220A in the area A. Referring to FIG. 10 (A), in area A, all calls (X1), mail transmission / reception (X2), video distribution (X3), and other services (XX) are permitted. For example, if the area A is a concert hall or a resting place in a theater where calls and emails can be freely used, the relay service information can be defined as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, FIG. 10B is an example of relay service information used for the relay device 220B in the area B. Referring to FIG. 10B, in area B, only mail transmission / reception (X2) is permitted, and all other services are denied. For example, if the area B is a concert hall or theater performance place where calls are not allowed, the relay service information can be defined as shown in FIG.

  For example, the processing unit 224 acquires such relay service information from the storage unit 226, and determines whether or not the service identifier included in the backbone signal S1 indicates a permitted service. Then, only the basic signal S1 having the service identifier indicating the permitted service is output to the signal conversion unit 128 or the basic communication unit 122.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of relay processing executed by the relay device 220 according to the present embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 11, first, the basic signal S1 is received by the basic communication unit 122 (S1102). Next, the service identifier included in the backbone signal S1 is acquired by the processing unit 224 (S1104). Then, the processing unit 224 determines whether or not the service identifier indicates a service permitted in the area where the apparatus is installed based on the relay service information acquired from the storage unit 226 (S1106). If the service identifier does not correspond to the permitted service, the process returns to S1102, and the relay device 220 waits for the next basic signal S1.

  On the other hand, in S1106, when the service identifier corresponds to the permitted service, the basic signal S1 is input to the signal converter 128 and converted into the electrostatic field signal S2 (S1108). The electrostatic field signal S <b> 2 is transmitted from the electrode unit 130 (S <b> 1110) and transmitted to the terminal device 250 via the human body 110.

  Thereafter, when the electrostatic field signal S2 as a response signal is output from the terminal device 250, the electrostatic field signal S2 is received by the electrode unit 130 (S1112). The received electrostatic field signal S2 is converted into the basic signal S1 by the signal conversion unit 128 (S1114), and transmitted from the basic communication unit 122 to the external device (S1116).

  In the flowchart of FIG. 11, an example is described in which the service identifier is not determined by the processing unit 224 for the response signal from the terminal device 250. However, the service by the processing unit 224 is not performed for the response signal from the terminal device 250. An identifier may be determined.

  Up to this point, the first configuration example of this embodiment has been described with reference to FIGS. In this configuration example, the user cannot perform wireless communication using the terminal device 250 due to the influence of the jamming wave transmitter 104 inside the facility 102. Here, the relay apparatus 220A is installed in the area A inside the facility 102, and the relay apparatus 220B is installed in the area B. Each relay device 220 converts only the basic signal S1 corresponding to the service permitted in the area where the device is installed based on the relay service information described above into the electrostatic field signal S2 and relays it.

  Such relay service information can be freely added / changed in the storage unit 226 of the relay device 220. Therefore, for example, in certain areas of concert halls and theaters, the use of all services using electrostatic field communication is allowed, and in some areas, only some services are allowed. Selection becomes possible.

[3-2] Second Configuration Example In the above-described first configuration example of the present embodiment, the terminal device 250 can process the received electrostatic field signal S2 unconditionally. On the other hand, as in a second configuration example described below, the terminal device 250 may be made to determine service provision. Hereinafter, a second configuration example of the present embodiment will be described.

  In this configuration example, the processing unit 224 of the relay apparatus 220 replaces the service identifier determination process described in relation to S1106 in FIG. 11 with, for example, the end of the signal output to the signal conversion unit 128, Add information about services allowed in the installed area.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electrostatic field signal S2 received by the user terminal device 250 located in a certain area inside the facility 102. Referring to FIG. 12, the electrostatic field signal S2 has an additional part in addition to the header part and the data part. The header part includes a service identifier. The additional unit includes a permitted service identifier that identifies a service permitted in the area.

  For example, the permitted service identifier is acquired from the storage unit 226 by the processing unit 224 of the relay device 220 and added to the basic signal S1 before signal conversion or the electrostatic field signal S2 after signal conversion. In the example of FIG. 12, in the permitted service information registered in advance in the storage unit 226, the identifier “X2” representing the mail transmission / reception service is added to the end of the signal as the permitted service identifier.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a logical configuration of the terminal device 250 (the terminal device 250A and the terminal device 250B) according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 13, the terminal device 250 includes a wireless communication unit 152, an electrostatic field communication unit 154, a display unit 156, an operation unit 158, a call unit 160, a control unit 262, a determination unit 264, and a storage unit 166.

  The control unit 262 controls overall functions of the terminal device 250 such as wireless communication by the wireless communication unit 152, electrostatic field communication by the electrostatic field communication unit 154, screen display by the display unit 156, and a call via the call unit 160. That is, each service such as a telephone service and a mail service provided to the user by the terminal device 250 is controlled by the control unit 262. In this configuration example, the control unit 262 requests the determination unit 264 to determine whether or not to provide the service before providing the service to the user.

  When the determination unit 264 requests the control unit 262 to determine whether or not the service can be provided using the electrostatic field communication unit 154, the determination unit 264 adds the service identifier included in the header portion of the electrostatic field signal S2 and the addition unit. Get authorized service identifier. If the service identifier acquired from the header part is included in the permitted service identifier, it is determined that the service can be provided. The control unit 162 receives a response from the determination unit 164 and provides only the service determined to be available to the user.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of electrostatic field communication processing executed by the terminal device 250 according to this configuration example.

  Referring to FIG. 14, first, the electrostatic field signal S2 is received by the electrostatic field communication unit 154 (S1202). Next, the service identifier is acquired from the header portion of the electrostatic field signal S2 by the determination unit 264 that has received a request from the control unit 262 (S1204). Similarly, the permitted service identifier is acquired from the addition unit of the electrostatic field signal S2 (S1206). Then, the determination unit 264 determines whether or not the service identifier acquired from the header portion is included in the permitted service identifier (S1208). If the service identifier is not included in the permitted service identifier, the process returns to S2102 and the terminal device 250 waits for the next signal.

  On the other hand, if the service identifier is included in the permitted service identifier in S1208, the control unit 262 that receives the response from the determination unit 264 executes a predetermined service (S1210). And the control part 262 transmits the electrostatic field signal S2 as a response signal from the electrostatic field communication part 154 (S1212).

  Up to this point, the second configuration example of the present embodiment has been described with reference to FIGS. In this configuration example, the relay device 220A or the relay device 220B installed in the facility 102 refers to the above-described permission service information and adds a permission service identifier to a signal relayed to the terminal device 250. Then, the terminal device 250 that has received the electrostatic field signal S2 relayed by the relay device 220 provides only the service permitted to be provided to the user to the user based on the permitted service identifier.

  In this configuration example, the relay device 220 does not need to be aware of the service identifier included in the backbone signal S1. Therefore, even when the relay device 220 cannot acquire a service identifier, for example, when communication contents are encrypted due to a security request, it is possible to flexibly select a provided service according to a location in the facility.

[4] Third Embodiment In the first and second embodiments, the communication system 100 or 200 is arranged inside a facility where an interference wave transmitter is installed, and a communication service using electrostatic field communication is provided to the user. The provided example has been described. However, for example, in the interior of an aircraft or around a priority seat of a vehicle, it is not realistic to install an interfering wave transmitter because radio waves are transmitted. Therefore, in the third embodiment of the present invention, a technique for technically limiting the use of wireless communication without installing an interference wave transmitter will be described.

  FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing an overview of a communication system 300 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 15, the communication system 300 exists inside the facility 302. The facility 302 is, for example, a cabin of an aircraft, and no interference wave transmitter can be installed.

  In the present embodiment, an area 302A and an area 302B exist inside the facility 302. In area 302A, relay device 320A is installed, and user 110A holding communication terminal 350A is in contact with the electrode of relay device 320A. A relay device 320B is installed in the area 302B, and a user 110B holding the communication terminal 350B is in contact with an electrode of the relay device 320B.

  In FIG. 15, the dedicated repeater 14 is shown outside the facility 302. The dedicated repeater 14 includes, for example, a dedicated wireless function for transmitting and receiving a specific channel signal of aeronautical radio that does not affect aircraft equipment. Then, the signal received by the dedicated repeater 14 is input to the relay device 320A and the relay device 320B as the backbone signal S1.

  FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a logical configuration of the relay device 320 (the relay device 320A and the relay device 320B) according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 16, the relay device 320 includes a backbone communication unit 122, a processing unit 224, a storage unit 226, a signal conversion unit 128, an electrode unit 130, and a steady signal generation unit 332.

  The stationary signal generation unit 332 of the relay device 320 sends a stationary signal that notifies the terminal device 350 held by the user located around the electrode unit 130 that the electrostatic field communication with the own device is effective. Send regularly.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of signals transmitted and received by the electrostatic field communication between the relay device 320 and the terminal device 350 along the time axis. Referring to FIG. 17, the stationary signals S _T has been transmitted with a constant period T from the steady signal generation unit 332 of the relay apparatus 320. Then, between the adjacent stationary signals S _T, normal data signal S2 for providing communication service is transmitted and received.

The stationary signal S _T from the stationary signal generator 332 is transmitted through the electrode 130, as may be received by the terminal apparatus 350.

  FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a logical configuration of the terminal device 350 (the terminal device 350A and the terminal device 350B) according to the present embodiment. 18, the terminal device 350 includes a wireless communication unit 152, an electrostatic field communication unit 154, a display unit 356, an operation unit 158, a call unit 160, a control unit 362, a determination unit 364, and a storage unit 166.

When the stationary signal _ST is received by the electrostatic field communication unit 154, the determination unit 364 recognizes that the device itself is currently located at a place where electrostatic field communication is possible. Then, the determination unit 364, for example, while receiving the stationary signals S _T, is stopped by the control unit 362 transmits and receives radio signals by the radio communication unit 152.

Here, for example, when the stationary signal generator 332 of the relay apparatus 320 transmits a stationary signal S _T, also to be included in the stationary signals S _T information specifying whether to stop the transmission and reception of radio signals Conceivable. In that case, the determination unit 364, the stationary signals S _T only when the stop of the transmission and reception of radio signals is specified, it is possible to stop the transmission and reception of radio signals by the radio communication unit 152.

The determination unit 364, when the stationary signals S _T is not received, recognizes such as the user external facility 302, and that moves to the area where wireless communication is allowed. In that case, the determination unit 364 restarts transmission / reception of the wireless signal by the wireless communication unit 152.

  In the present embodiment (or other embodiments), the control unit 362 preferably displays the current wireless communication and electrostatic field communication status of the terminal device 350 on the display unit 356. FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the display device of the terminal device 350 by the display unit 356.

Referring to FIG. 19, the screen D <b> 1 displayed by the display unit 356 shows an icon I <b> 1 that displays the status of wireless communication and an icon I <b> 2 that displays the status of electrostatic field communication in addition to character information such as date and time. ing. The icon I1, for example, is configured so that the strength of the radio signal can be determined in three stages. For example, the icon I2 is configured so that the strength of the electrostatic field signal can be determined in three stages. The icon I1 is given a mark M1 indicating that transmission / reception of wireless signals is currently stopped. For example, as described above, the mark M1 is provided when the terminal device 350 receives the steady signal _ST and the transmission / reception of the wireless signal is stopped in a facility where the use of wireless communication is restricted such as inside an aircraft. Is done. On the other hand, the mark M2 is given to indicate the type of communication that is currently available.

Up to this point, the third embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, an interference wave transmitter cannot be used inside the facility 302. Instead, transmitted from the relay device 320 stationary signals S _T by electrostatic field communication periodically stops the transmission and reception of radio signals by the terminal apparatus 350.

Until now, when wireless communication could not be interrupted due to the transmission of jamming waves, etc., suppression of the use of wireless communication has been left to guidance by the user's manners or crew members. However, according to this embodiment, the terminal apparatus 350 which has received the stationary signals S _T, it is possible to limit the use of wireless communication technically.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, not only the use of wireless communication is limited, but also a service using electrostatic field communication can be provided to the user via the relay device 320 and the dedicated relay device 14. Also, when combined with the service restriction function according to the first and second embodiments described above, depending on the location, for example, only sending and receiving e-mails are permitted in the vicinity of the passenger seats, and calls are also allowed in the vehicle decks. It is also possible to flexibly select service offerings.

[5] Fourth Embodiment In the first to third embodiments, a user located in the vicinity of the electrode unit 130 is free to the extent that the service permitted at the place is not restricted by the setting of the terminal device. I was able to use it. However, in hospitals, for example, there is a demand for providing different services for each user, such as allowing emergency calls by doctors and nurses and prohibiting calls by patients even in the same place. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, a method for changing the service provided for each user even in the same place will be described.

  FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a communication system 400 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 20, the communication system 400 exists inside the facility 402. An interference wave transmitter 104 is installed in the facility 402. Therefore, the terminal device 450 possessed by the user (human body 110) cannot receive radio waves transmitted from the base station 10 located outside the facility 402.

  In the example of FIG. 20, the radio wave transmitted from the base station 10 is received by the relay station 12 and becomes the basic signal S1. Then, the backbone signal S1 is input to the relay device 420.

  FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a logical configuration of the relay device 420 according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 21, the relay device 420 includes a backbone communication unit 122, a processing unit 424, a storage unit 426, a signal conversion unit 128, an electrode unit 130, and a signature addition unit 434.

  When the basic signal S1 is input, the processing unit 424 adds the permitted service identifier described with reference to FIG. 12 to the end of the basic signal S1, for example. Signature information is further added by the signature adding unit 434 to the basic signal S1. For example, the signature information is generated by the signature adding unit 434 using a common key of a common key cryptosystem held in advance in the storage unit 426.

  FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the electrostatic field signal S2 transmitted from the relay device 420 in the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 22, the electrostatic field signal S2 includes a header part, a data part, and an additional part. The header part includes a service identifier. The additional unit includes a permitted service identifier that specifies a service permitted to be provided to the user, and signature information generated by encrypting the permitted service identifier. The electrostatic field signal S2 is received by the terminal device 450.

  FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a logical configuration of the terminal device 450 according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 23, the terminal device 450 includes a wireless communication unit 152, an electrostatic field communication unit 154, a display unit 156, an operation unit 158, a call unit 160, a control unit 462, a determination unit 464, a storage unit 466, and a signature verification unit. 468.

  The control unit 462 controls overall functions of the terminal device 450 such as wireless communication by the wireless communication unit 152, electrostatic field communication by the electrostatic field communication unit 154, screen display by the display unit 156, and telephone conversation via the call unit 160. That is, each service such as a telephone service and a mail service provided to the user by the terminal device 450 is controlled by the control unit 462. In this embodiment, the control unit 462 requests the determination unit 464 to determine whether or not to provide the service before providing the service to the user.

  When the control unit 462 requests the service unit 462 to determine whether or not to provide a service using the electrostatic field communication unit 154, the determination unit 464 includes the service identifier included in the header portion of the electrostatic field signal S2 illustrated in FIG. The permitted service identifier and signature information added to the copy are acquired. Then, the determination unit 464 requests the signature verification unit 468 to verify the validity of the service identifier.

  Here, it is assumed that the above-described common key is registered in the storage unit 466 in advance in the terminal device 450 used by the user (for example, a doctor or nurse of a hospital) specially recognized in the facility 402. Then, the signature verification unit 468 verifies the validity of the service identifier by receiving the request from the determination unit 464 and decrypting the signature information using the common key held in the storage unit 466 in advance. The verification result is output to the determination unit 464.

  As a result, the determination unit 464 can provide the service only when the service identifier acquired from the header portion is included in the permitted service identifier and the validity of the service identifier is verified by the signature verification unit 468. It is determined that The control unit 462 receives the response from the determination unit 464, and provides only the service determined to be provided to the user.

  Up to this point, the fourth embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the relay apparatus 420 adds signature information that allows only some users to verify the validity of the permitted service identifier together with the permitted service identifier to the electrostatic field signal S2 that is relayed to the terminal apparatus 450. . Then, the terminal device 450 provides only the service permitted by the permitted service identifier whose validity has been verified to the user. Thereby, even in the same place where the relay device 420 is installed, it is possible to provide different services between special users who have registered the common key in advance and other users.

[6] Fifth Embodiment In electrostatic field communication using electrostatic coupling between electrodes or between an electrode and a transmission medium for communication, the restriction on the position imposed on the terminal device is larger than that in wireless communication. However, in the first to fourth embodiments, the position restriction in the electrostatic field communication is positively utilized to enable flexible selection of the provided service according to the location. Furthermore, in the fifth embodiment of the present invention, a method for flexibly selecting the contents of information provided by an information providing service among communication services using electrostatic field communication will be described.

  FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a logical configuration of the relay device 520 according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 24, the relay device 520 includes a backbone communication unit 122, a processing unit 524, a storage unit 526, a signal conversion unit 128, an electrode unit 130, and an operation unit 536.

  In the present embodiment, when the basic signal S1 is input, the processing unit 524 acquires additional information from the storage unit 526, and adds it to the end of the basic signal S1, for example. The basic signal S1 to which the additional information is added is transmitted from the electrode unit 130 after being converted into the electrostatic field signal S2 by the signal conversion unit 128. Such additional information is displayed to the user by, for example, the display unit 156 of the terminal device 150.

  FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of the electrostatic field signal S2 transmitted from the relay device 520 in the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 25, the electrostatic field signal S2 includes a header part, a data part, and an additional part. The header part includes, for example, a service identifier. Further, the addition unit includes additional information added by the processing unit 524.

  The additional information may be any information related to the place where the relay device 520 is installed. For example, as additional information, advertisement information of a product handled only at a specific store may be added. Further, disaster information specific to the region, operation information specialized for transportation, and the like may be handled as additional information. Furthermore, audio information may be added to the signal as additional information and reproduced by the terminal device. The additional information can be registered in advance in the storage unit 526 of the relay device 520 by the user who operates the operation unit 536 or via the communication network using the basic signal S1 or the electrostatic field signal S2.

  Up to this point, the fifth embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to FIGS. 24 and 25. In the present embodiment, the relay device 520 adds arbitrary information related to the location where the device is installed to a signal relayed to the terminal device 550. Accordingly, it is possible to flexibly select the content of information provided by the information providing service using electrostatic field communication according to the location.

  In this embodiment, the example in which the additional information is added to the signal transmitted from the relay device 520 to the terminal device 150 has been described. However, the additional information is added to the signal transmitted from the terminal device 150 to the external device via the relay device 520. Information may be added. For example, by adding identification information indicating that electrostatic field communication has been used to a signal, it is possible to distinguish between electrostatic field communication and other communications and to change the charging method for communication service charges. In such a case, for example, the charge when using electrostatic field communication can be set at a low price, and the use of electrostatic field communication can be promoted.

[7] Summary In the present specification, five embodiments have been described in which a communication system is configured in combination with a relay device that includes a terminal device having an electrostatic field communication function and can relay a core signal as an electrostatic field signal.

  Here, examples of the communication method that can be used in the portable terminal device include infrared communication in addition to the wireless communication and the electrostatic field communication described in this specification. However, in the case of infrared communication, the communication range is biased in a specific direction due to the directivity of infrared rays, and the convenience is impaired in that an intentional operation is required such as the user holding the terminal device up during use. It is.

  For example, when short-range communication represented by Bluetooth (registered trademark) is used, initial setting between terminal devices is necessary at the start of communication, and local communication areas such as electrostatic field communication are locally set. The problem is that it cannot be set.

  On the other hand, if electrostatic field communication is used, when a user enters an area where electrodes are installed, communication can be immediately performed in a free posture. Therefore, taking advantage of the characteristics of electrostatic field communication, and actively utilizing the position restriction of the presence of electrodes, the communication service provision form can be flexibly selected according to the location as in the above embodiments. Made it possible to do.

  In addition, in this specification, although the terminal device which mainly has the function of both radio | wireless communication and electrostatic field communication was demonstrated, the 1st-5th embodiment is a terminal for exclusive use which has only the function of electrostatic field communication. You may apply to an apparatus. Even in such a case, it is possible to provide a user who uses a dedicated terminal device with a service that is flexibly selected according to the location.

  It does not matter whether a series of processing such as control processing or determination processing related to the relay device or terminal device described in this specification is realized by hardware or software. When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software is executed by using a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware, for example, a general-purpose computer shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 26, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 902 controls the overall operation of the general-purpose computer. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 904 stores a program or data describing a part or all of a series of processes. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 906 temporarily stores programs and data used by the CPU 902 for arithmetic processing.

  The CPU 902, ROM 904, and RAM 906 are connected to each other via a bus 908. Further, an input / output interface 910 is connected to the bus 908.

  The input / output interface 910 is an interface for connecting the CPU 902, the ROM 904, and the RAM 906 to the input device 912, the display device 914, the storage device 916, the first and second communication devices 918, 919, and the drive 920. .

  The input device 912 receives an instruction or information input from a user via an input device such as a button, switch, lever, mouse, or keyboard. The display device 914 displays information to the user via a display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a liquid crystal display, or an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode). The storage device 916 includes, for example, a hard disk drive or a flash memory, and stores a program or program data.

  The first communication device 918 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving a basic signal or a radio signal via the Internet, a LAN, a WAN, a dedicated line, or the like. The second communication device 919 includes an electrode and a resonance circuit for transmitting and receiving an electrostatic field signal.

  The drive 920 is provided in a general-purpose computer as necessary. For example, a removable medium 922 is attached to the drive 920.

  When the series of processing is executed by software, for example, a program stored in the ROM 904, the storage device 916, or the removable medium 922 shown in FIG. 26 is read into the RAM 906 at the time of execution and executed by the CPU 902.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

  For example, in the first to fifth embodiments, when the user is located in the vicinity of the electrode, the electrostatic field communication can be used immediately unless the communication service is restricted. However, instead, the terminal device may explicitly request the user to instruct or confirm switching from wireless communication to electrostatic field communication via the display unit and the operation unit.

It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the general method for restrict | limiting a radio | wireless communication service. It is a schematic diagram which shows the basic composition of the communication system which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the communication system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the logical structure of the relay apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the logical structure of the terminal device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the provision service information which can be registered into the memory | storage part of the terminal device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the communication system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the logical structure of the relay apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st structural example of the signal transmitted from a relay apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the relay service information which can be registered into the memory | storage part of the relay apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which a relay apparatus performs in 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd structural example of the signal transmitted from a relay apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the logical structure of the terminal device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which a terminal device performs in 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the communication system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the logical structure of the relay apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates the mode of the signal transmitted from a relay apparatus in 3rd Embodiment in time series. It is a block diagram which shows the logical structure of the terminal device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a screen displayed on the terminal device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the communication system which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the logical structure of the relay apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the signal transmitted from a relay apparatus in 4th Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the logical structure of the terminal device which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the logical structure of the relay apparatus which concerns on 5th Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the signal transmitted from a relay apparatus in 5th Embodiment. And FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a general-purpose computer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Base station 12 Relay station 14 Dedicated relay machine 100,200,300,400,500 Communication system 102,302,402 Facility 104 Interference wave transmitter 110 Human body 120,220,320,420 Relay apparatus 122 Core communication part 124,224 424, 524 processing unit 126, 226, 426, 526 storage unit 128 signal conversion unit 130 electrode unit 332 steady signal generation unit 434 signature addition unit 536 operation unit 150, 250, 350, 450 terminal device 152 wireless communication unit 154 electrostatic field Communication unit 156, 356 Display unit 158 Operation unit 160 Call unit 162, 262, 362, 462 Control unit 164, 264, 364, 464 Judgment unit 166, 466 Storage unit 468 Signature verification unit

Claims (19)

A backbone communication unit that transmits and receives wired or wireless communication signals to and from external devices;
The communication signal received by the core communication unit is modulated into an electrostatic field signal to be converted into an electrostatic field signal, or the electrostatic field signal modulated to the electrostatic field potential is demodulated to the external device. A signal conversion unit for converting into a communication signal transmitted / received by;
An electrode unit that radiates an electrostatic field signal modulated by the signal conversion unit as an electrostatic field potential, or senses the electrostatic field potential to generate an electrostatic field signal and outputs the electrostatic field signal to the signal conversion unit;
A relay device comprising: The relay device is
A service identifier for identifying a communication service provided by the communication signal is acquired from the communication signal received by the backbone communication unit, and the acquired service identifier corresponds to a predefined communication service to be relayed A processing unit that converts the communication signal into the electrostatic field signal by the signal conversion unit only when
The relay device according to claim 1, further comprising: The relay device is
A permission service identifier for designating a communication service permitted to be provided to a user is added to the communication signal received by the backbone communication unit, and the communication signal with the permission service identifier added is added to the static signal by the signal conversion unit. A processing unit for converting into an electric field signal,
The relay device according to claim 1, further comprising: The relay device is
A signature adding unit that encrypts the permitted service identifier using a common key to generate signature information, and adds the generated signature information to the communication signal received by the backbone communication unit;
The relay device according to claim 3, further comprising: The relay device is
A stationary signal transmission unit for periodically transmitting a predetermined electrostatic field signal from the electrode unit,
The relay device according to claim 1, further comprising: The relay device is
Arbitrary information is added to the communication signal received by the backbone communication unit and converted into the electrostatic field signal by the signal conversion unit, or the communication signal converted from the electrostatic field signal by the signal conversion unit is arbitrary. A processing unit that adds the information and transmits the information to the external device by the backbone communication unit,
The relay device according to claim 1, further comprising: A wireless communication unit that transmits and receives wireless signals to and from an external device;
An electrostatic field communication unit for transmitting and receiving an electrostatic field signal modulated to an electrostatic field potential;
A determination unit that determines whether or not to provide a communication service provided by the wireless signal or the electrostatic field signal;
A terminal device comprising:   The determination unit acquires a communication state by the wireless communication unit and the electrostatic field communication unit, and determines whether to provide a communication service provided by the wireless signal or the electrostatic field signal according to the acquired communication state. The terminal device according to claim 7.   When the wireless communication unit and the electrostatic field communication unit can communicate with each other, the determination unit provides a communication service of the wireless signal or the electrostatic field signal based on priority information given in advance. The communication device according to claim 8, wherein a signal used for the communication is determined.   The determination unit acquires a permission service identifier that specifies a communication service permitted to be provided to a user from the electrostatic field signal, and whether or not to provide a communication service provided by the electrostatic field signal based on the acquired permitted service identifier The terminal device according to claim 7, wherein: The terminal device
A signature verification unit that verifies the validity of the permitted service identifier by decrypting the signature information for the permitted service identifier added to the electrostatic field signal using a common key;
The terminal device according to claim 10, further comprising: The electrostatic field communication unit receives a stationary signal which is an electrostatic field signal periodically transmitted,
When the stationary signal is received by the electrostatic field communication unit, the determination unit stops transmission / reception of a wireless signal by the wireless communication unit,
The terminal device according to claim 7. The terminal device
The signal strength of the wireless signal transmitted and received by the wireless communication unit, the signal strength of the electrostatic field signal transmitted and received by the electrostatic field communication unit, and the currently usable signal among the wireless signal and the electrostatic field signal A display for displaying the type to the user,
The terminal device according to claim 7, further comprising: An electrostatic field communication unit for transmitting and receiving an electrostatic field signal modulated to an electrostatic field potential;
A determination unit that determines whether or not to provide a communication service provided by the electrostatic field signal;
A terminal device comprising: A core communication unit that transmits and receives wired or wireless communication signals to and from external devices;
The communication signal received by the core communication unit is modulated into an electrostatic field signal to be converted into an electrostatic field signal, or the electrostatic field signal modulated to the electrostatic field potential is demodulated to the external device. A signal converter for converting into a communication signal transmitted and received by
And an electrode unit that radiates an electrostatic field signal modulated by the signal converter as a potential, or generates an electrostatic field signal by sensing the potential of the electrostatic field and outputs the signal to the signal converter;
A relay device comprising:
A wireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from an external device;
An electrostatic field communication unit for transmitting and receiving an electrostatic field signal modulated to an electrostatic field potential;
And a determination unit that determines whether or not to provide a communication service provided by the wireless signal or the electrostatic field signal;
A terminal device comprising:
A communication system including: A core communication unit that transmits and receives wired or wireless communication signals to and from external devices;
The communication signal received by the core communication unit is modulated into an electrostatic field signal to be converted into an electrostatic field signal, or the electrostatic field signal modulated to the electrostatic field potential is demodulated to the external device. A signal converter for converting into a communication signal transmitted and received at
An electrode unit that radiates an electrostatic field signal modulated by the signal converter as a potential, or generates an electrostatic field signal by sensing the potential of the electrostatic field and outputs the signal to the signal converter;
And acquiring a service identifier for identifying a communication service provided by the communication signal from the communication signal received by the backbone communication unit, and the acquired service identifier is a predefined communication service to be relayed A processing unit that converts the communication signal into the electrostatic field signal by the signal conversion unit only when applicable;
First and second relay devices each comprising:
A wireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from an external device;
And an electrostatic field communication unit that transmits and receives an electrostatic field signal modulated to the potential of the electrostatic field;
A terminal device comprising:
A communication system comprising:
The relay target communication service defined in advance in the first relay device is not the same as the relay target communication service defined in advance in the second relay device.
Communications system. Receiving a wired or wireless communication signal transmitted from an external device at a relay device;
Converting the received communication signal into an electrostatic field signal modulated to a potential in an electrostatic field, and radiating it from an electrode portion provided in the relay device;
Receiving a radiated electrostatic field signal by sensing a potential of the electrostatic field in a terminal device including a wireless communication unit that transmits and receives a wireless signal and an electrostatic field communication unit that transmits and receives an electrostatic field signal;
Including a communication method. A core communication unit that transmits / receives wired or wireless communication signals to / from an external device, and an electrode unit that emits an electrostatic field signal as an electrostatic field potential or senses the electrostatic field potential to generate an electrostatic field signal A computer that controls the relay device provided:
A signal that modulates the communication signal received by the backbone communication unit into an electrostatic field signal and converts it into an electrostatic field signal, or demodulates the electrostatic field signal generated by the electrode unit and converts it into the communication signal Conversion unit;
Program to function as. A computer that controls a terminal device including a wireless communication unit that transmits and receives a wireless signal to and from an external device, and an electrostatic field communication unit that transmits and receives an electrostatic field signal modulated to an electrostatic field potential:
A determination unit that determines whether or not to provide a communication service provided by the wireless signal or the electrostatic field signal;
Program to function as.

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